If birds did tribute bands…

White-fronted Goose - the first to put down at Walthamstow Wetlands for five years - was among the 80 species recorded in February. Monthly round-up on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com. Thanks to @samodonnell25 & MLP, AW and SN for photos. #londonbirds

A very fun and successful weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands, Marshes and Waterworks NR. Bittern (my 2nd here), White-fronted Goose, Marsh Harrier, 3 Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, Rock Pipit, 6 Sand Martin (my earliest ever), Scaup, 3 Goldeneye, Siskins and Common Sandpiper!

Nice to be back in Pembrokeshire last week. Mainly spending time around the Nevern Estuary. Dipped the Ring-billed Gull twice at Goodwick but a very smart (but distant) Black Guillemot made up for it. My first for 3 years! Plus a YLG. At least 2 Dippers showed very well along the Nevern as well!

Nice to finally catch up with the 1st winter White-fronted Goose on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning. Missed it twice, so third time lucky! Please excuse the poor record shots.

Nice to see 2 Firecrest, the Scaup, 4 Goldeneyes, Skylark, Raven, 6 Snipe, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Stonechat, Mistle Thrush, Meadow Pipit and more on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands during the weekend!

Good to see this 1st winter female Scaup on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands after college today. It was sleeping most of the time, but it's my first here for 3 years!

Nice to finally find a more interesting bird than just the regulars on Patch today at Walthamstow Wetlands, a Great Northern Diver! Only my 2nd here. Please excuse the poor photos, the light was really poor (just like Arsenal 🙄). It seemed to be just flying around for the hell of it 😅.

The 20th annual BirdGuides Photo of the Year competition is here – and we're delighted to announce this year's shortlist, as well as give you the chance to vote for your favourite. Get voting!

How incredible is this shot from the talented Sam O'Donnell 🤩 This peregrine falcon was photographed at our very own Walthamstow Wetlands, and if you’re lucky, you might spot one perched high up on the pylon near the bird hide. 👀🪶 Feeling inspired after Wild London? You know where to head! 🦅✨

Bittern, 80+ Snow Buntings and the Temminck's Stint were among the highlights on a recent trip to the Suffolk Coast with @david-walsh.bsky.social @noahbai-123.bsky.social @tsbirding.bsky.social @lucasnature.bsky.social and others!

Bewick’s Swans, the first since 2013, White-fronts & Woodcock took Walthamstow Wetlands 2025 bird list to 148. December round-up now on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com Thanks to @samodonnell25.bsky.social @chris-farthing.bsky.social & @Ivorh.bsky.social for photos #londonbirding #ukbirding

Thoroughly enjoyable day on the snowy Suffolk coast! Highlights were Temminck's Stint, Spotted Redshank, Bittern, Goosander, Zitting Cisticola, and Snow Buntings. Many snowball fights with @noahbai-123.bsky.social throughout the day, too! @david-walsh.bsky.social @samodonnell25.bsky.social

2025 has been an absolutely incredible year on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands and Marshes. My personal total for the year was 138, beating last year's total by 6 and seeing 12 Patch ticks including RN Grebe, Bewick's Swans, WG Geese, Bittern, Gropper, Osprey, and Water Pipit!

Pleased to finally get in on the Geese action yesterday with these 2 White-fronted Geese! A much anticipated Patch tick. Also Great White Egret, Common Sandpiper, Wigeons, Goldeneye, Stonechats and ridiculous views of Peregrines the best of the rest from recently.

We can confirm these two Bewick's are now at WWT Slimbridge. Known as Clutton & Cameley, they arrived at Slimbridge on Christmas Day / Boxing Day. Clutton is a regular & Cameley is here for the first time @samodonnell25.bsky.social

Mega happy to find these 2 Bewick's Swans on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands this morning! A very rare bird here and a Patch tick. Also found a Little Gull, 2 Ravens, good numbers of Lapwings. Saw a roosting Woodcock earlier in the week plus Wigeon, Buzzard, and more! A nice early Xmas present!

Absolutely over the moon to win the urban animals category at the @rspcaoffficial.bsky.social Young Photographer awards yesterday with this image of a Sand Martin taken at Walthamstow Wetlands! I also got my photo featured in The Times, which is pretty cool!

Great to be out on Patch again at Walthamstow Wetlands today in glorious weather. I was certainly caught by surprise when I was looking through a Chiffchaff flock, and then this Common Whitethroat popped up! #ukbirding #patchbirding

We’re delighted to announce ‘Rewilding East London’ - a new species recovery project to reintroduce white storks and beavers to East London! Delivered in partnership with London Borough of Barking & Dagenham supported by the Mayor’s of London's Green Roots Fund. @london.gov.uk #GreenRoots

The first Bittern since 2012, our fourth ever Yellow-browed Warbler and a remarkable passage of Brent Geese were November highlights at London’s Walthamstow Wetlands. Round-up on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com Thanks to @samodonnell25.bsky.social @chris-farthing.bsky.social and DD for photos.

At the 2nd attempt, I was very pleased to see the long staying Grey Phalarope at KGV yesterday, a lifer for me! Showed amazingly the whole time I was there. Also, Black-necked Grebe, 6 Goosander, Goldeneyes, 10 Wigeon, Red Kite and a Buzzard. #ukbirding

Had some great views of this Yellow-browed Warbler on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands yesterday for a few mins. Only my 3rd ever and all of them have been here! So nice to see that lovely bright supercilium and hear the call again! #ukbirding #patchbirding

A long and anxious wait to finish my lessons at college today paid off as I managed to see this Bittern on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. A Patch tick and the first here since 2012! Also a Yellow-browed Warbler seen this morning, though no sign later on. Hopefully tomorrow 🤞

Yesterday's Brent Goose passage on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands was a bit insane! I had 114 out of a combined total of c200 all going high South! Also, 34 Lapwing and my first Goosander of the year here. #ukbirding

The first Water Pipit since 2021 was October's bird highlight at London's Walthamstow Wetlands. Round-up of the 97 species seen now on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com Thanks to @samodonnell25.bsky.social @chris-farthing.bsky.social @wheresrhys.bsky.social & MLP for pics. #londonbirding

Since my last post 10 days ago, Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands has been relatively quiet. Firecrest trapped and ringed on the 22nd was nice to see. A Marsh Harrier today was my 2nd ever here! Also 2 Ravens, YLG, Rock Pipit, Brambling, Redpolls, Siskins, Skylarks and more!

A 1st winter male SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT caught on North Ronaldsay!!! #RareBirdsUK #BirdingScotland #OrkneyBirding

Bit of a crazy few days on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Found this Water Pipit, a Patch tick! My first Great Egret, 2 Brambling and 6 Pintails of the year here! Also Rock Pipits, Yellow-legged Gull, 7 Wigeon, Siskin, Redpoll, Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Fieldfares, and more! #ukbirding

After the initial couple of flyby’s the juvenile Sabine’s Gull showed incredibly well. Not many birds that are as stunning in juvenile plum as adults but Sab’s are definitely one of those. Just a shame for it be on site with no access #UKbirding @birdguides.bsky.social @berksbirdclub.bsky.social

Great day on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands and Waterworks NR. Med Gull, Rock Pipit, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 5 Jack Snipes, Common Snipe, 10 Redpolls, Siskins, Raven, Skylark, YLG, 4 Wigeon, 80 Redwings and more! #ukbirding #patchbirding

I’ve really enjoyed birding at Landguard regularly this autumn. Y’day was great, with Jack Snipe & Long-eared Owl amongst 50+ species. Today was epic! A self-found Yellow-browed Warbler then the magic moment of relocating a Pallas’s Warbler with Will Brame which he & Bill Mackie had found earlier.

Another decent weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. Raven, Garganey, YLG, Caspian Gull, 2 Rock Pipits, Meadow Pipits, 3 Wigeons, Snipes, my first Redwings of the autumn, Stonechats and more. Nice to help out doing WeBS as well! #patchbirding #ukbirding

Honey Buzzard, Grasshopper W, Grey Plover & Raven - all new for 2025 - highlights of September @ Walthamstow Wetlands. Round-up on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com Thanks to @samodonnell25.bsky.social @chris-farthing.bsky.social @ivorh.bsky.social @eugenedh.bsky.social & YLD for pics #londonbirding

Good to see 3 Rock Pipits this weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. My first here this year. Also, ringed Plover, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtails, Siskins, Swallows, Sand and House Martins, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stonechats, Yellow-legged Gull, Common Sandpipers and more! #ukbirding

2 Green Sandpipers were nice to see on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands over the weekend, a species that I don't often see here. Also, decent movement of Meadow Pipits and Hirundines as well as a few Siskins and a Snipe.

A few more of the very smart juvenile Red-necked Phalarope while at Migfest! @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social

Migfest 2025 was really fun! Red-necked Phalarope (lifer!), Cranes, Curlew Sandpipers, Garganey, Pink feet, Osprey, Arctic Skua, Tree Pipit, Redstarts, Crossbill and 000s of Meadow Pipit the highlights! Was fantastic to have such amazing company as well! Sorry don't have enough space to tag people.

Had a great time at Spurn's #migfest this weekend. Not too many birds but good to spend some time with friends new and old. with @joesn.bsky.social @finchleybirder.bsky.social @samodonnell25.bsky.social @desertwarbler.bsky.social @amiranuseibeh.bsky.social and many many more

Ruff & Little Stint highlights of a 100-species August at Walthamstow Wetlands. Round-up now on walthamstowbirders.blogspot.com Thanks to @samodonnell25.bsky.social @eugenedh.bsky.social @chris-farthing.bsky.social @londonkingfishers.bsky.social @ivorh.bsky.social @Callahanbirder & MLP for photos.

Been a very good weekend on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands. 2 Patch ticks being Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Ravens! Both extremely rare birds here! Also, Caspian and YL Gull, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Curlews, Hobby, 6+ Spotted Flycatchers, first Meadow Pipits of the autumn and more! #ukbirding

On Saturday, I headed to Rainham Marshes with Ben Rumsby, @ravigrewal.bsky.social, Daniel Brasier, and Fred Matthews. Was brilliant to see a Roseate Tern on the river (credit to Fred for picking it up)! Very distant but a great bird! Also 4 Wood Sands, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Barn Owl etc

Since I've got back from Pembs, Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands has been quite good. Ruff (my 2nd ever here and a patch rarity), Greenshank, Blackwit, Black Tern, 1st summer Arctic Tern, Wheatear, Garganey, Spot fly, both Caspian and YLG, Hobby, Yellow Wags and more! #ukbirding #patchbirding

A nice final walk around the Nevern Estuary this morning. Found this Wood Warbler, which was quite a surprise! Also the German ringed juvenile female Osprey still showing well, Blackwit, 10 Ringo, 30 Dunlins, Kingfisher, Red Kite 3 Med Gulls, Willow Warbler and more! #ukbirding

Found this Lesser Emperor a couple days ago on Dinas Head. Must have been newly arrived as it was on the headland with no bodies of water apart from the sea around. Pretty rare here I think! Yesterday, I finally saw my first Euro Storm Petrels along with good views of Conmon Dolphins! #ukbirding

Zitting cisticola Walberswick, Suffolk, 23/08/2025 I thought I was having a good day with an image of one of the juveniles from the 1st recorded breeding of Zitting cisticola in the UK. On review I found four juveniles and the adult female🤯 @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #suffolkbirding #ukbirding

First 2 days in Pembs have been great! Lots of good birds at the Nevern Estuary. Little Stint, German ringed Osprey, Yellow Wagtails, Knot, Arctic and Sandwich Terns, both Godwits, and more! I finally saw my first ever Willow Tits in the UK as well after dipping multiple times! #ukbirding

The last few days on Patch at Walthamstow Wetlands have been ok though a little dull at times but today was great! This juv Little Stint made me rush out again after I had just arrived home! Also so far this week, Curlew, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Hobby, Little Owl, Ringo, YLG. #ukbirding

On the way back home from a nice week in the North York Moors and the surrounding area. 92 species seen including Cory's Shearwater, Barn Owls from the garden, Redstart, Tree Pipits, Red Grouse, Auks, Waders, Yellow Wagtails, Marsh Harrier, and more! Also a few nice inverts. #ukbirding

It's been a good start to a week away in the North York Moors. Took a trip to Bempton and Flamborough for the first time and found a Cory's Shearwater, a UK lifer! Also seen over the last few days, SPB Fritillary, Barn Owls, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Spot flys and Marsh Harrier! #ukbirding